Rescuers pulled out more bodies from the muddy debris of disastrous landslide taking the toll to over 80 while 118 people remained missing today in floods triggered by the heaviest rains in Sri Lanka in over a quarter century even as relief aid poured in from across the world, including India, for lakhs of displaced people.
The heavy rains have pounded Sri Lanka since last weekend, triggering huge landslides that have buried some victims in up to 50 feet of mud.
Sri Lankan army and other rescuers pulled out 13 more bodies late last night in the worst-hit district of Kegalle.
The Disaster Management Centre said the death toll in the landslide has reached to 82 while 118 people are still missing.
Around 3,40,000 people have been displaced across the country in the floods and landslides, said Pradeep Kodippili, spokesman of the Disaster Management Centre.
The death toll is likely to go up as rescue teams reach some of the worst-hit areas, authorities said.
The national Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that 21 of Sri Lanka's 25 districts have been badly affected due to the floods and landslide.
The military said the search for the missing persons is is on in Aranayake where 43 bodies have been pulled out from the debris.
"The sun was out this morning, yet the search operations were not easy," Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe said.
Meanwhile, floodwaters were receding in the capital Colombo and in the Western province's Kelaniya and Kaduwela areas.
International aid began arriving in Sri Lanka yesterday, bringing help to lakhs of people driven from their homes by heavy rains and deadly landslides.
Various nations, including India, Pakistan, Australia and Japan are bringing in aid supplies such as blankets, water-purification tablets and drinking water.
An Indian Air Force plane and two naval ships carrying emergency supplies arrived in Colombo yesterday.
Sri Lanka's military is airdropping food and water to affected areas as rescue operations continue, authorities said.
The United Nations has pledged to support the Sri Lankan Government in its efforts to respond to the needs on the ground.
UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Una McCauley, today met President Maithripala Sirisena and discussed flood emergency needs.
"Wemet President this morning for a briefing on emergency response and coordination. We remain committed to assist all the affected people," a statement by the UN said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan police have arrested 16 robbers who had entered the flood-hit homes to loot.
"We will take strong actionto arrest anyone buying stolen goods," a police spokesman said.
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China's Red Cross has donated USD 50,000 cash for the relief and rehabilitation of the people affected by the floods and landslides in Sri Lanka.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday sent a message to his Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera, extending condolences over the flash floods and landslides hitting the island country.
In the message, Wang expressed deep sympathy to the Sri Lankan government and people in the affected areas and conveyed profound condolences to the victims of the disaster.
"As China and Sri Lanka are traditional friendly neighbours, the Chinese people are deeply affected by the disaster sustained by the Sri Lankan people as if they have experienced it themselves," Wang said, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
"We believe that under the leadership of the Sri Lankan government, the people of Sri Lanka will definitely be able to overcome difficulties and the disaster," he said.
Wang also expressed China's willingness to offer any assistance it can to help Sri Lanka cope with the disaster.
